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of Vocations shall prescribe for you。 For the Council of Vocations knows
in its great wisdom where you are needed by your brother men； better than
you can know it in your unworthy little minds。 And if you are not needed
by your brother man； there is no reason for you to burden the earth with
your bodies。〃
We knew this well； in the years of our childhood； but our curse broke
our will。 We were guilty and we confess it here： we were guilty of the
great Transgression of Preference。 We preferred some work and some
lessons to the others。 We did not listen well to the history of all the
Councils elected since the Great Rebirth。 But we loved the Science of
Things。 We wished to know。 We wished to know about all the things
which make the earth around us。 We asked so many questions that the
Teachers forbade it。
We think that there are mysteries in the sky and under the water and in
the plants which grow。 But the Council of Scholars has said that there
are no mysteries； and the Council of Scholars knows all things。 And we
learned much from our Teachers。 We learned that the earth is flat and that
the sun revolves around it； which causes the day and the night。 We
learned the names of all the winds which blow over the seas and push the
sails of our great ships。 We learned how to bleed men to cure them of all
ailments。
We loved the Science of Things。 And in the darkness； in the secret
hour； when we awoke in the night and there were no brothers around us；
but only their shapes in the beds and their snores； we closed our eyes； and
we held our lips shut； and we stopped our breath； that no shudder might let
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our brothers see or hear or guess； and we thought that we wished to be sent
to the Home of the Scholars when our time would come。
All the great modern inventions come from the Home of the Scholars；
such as the newest one； which was found only a hundred years ago； of
how to make candles from wax and string； also； how to make glass； which
is put in our windows to protect us from the rain。 To find these things；
the Scholars must study the earth and learn from the rivers； from the sands；
from the winds and the rocks。 And if we went to the Home of the
Scholars； we could learn from these also。 We could ask questions of
these； for they do not forbid questions。
And questions give us no rest。 We know not why our curse makes us
seek we know not what； ever and ever。 But we cannot resist it。 It
whispers to us that there are great things on this earth of ours； and that we
can know them if we try； and that we must know them。 We ask； why
must we know； but it has no answer to give us。 We must know that we may
know。
So we wished to be sent to the Home of the Scholars。 We wished it
so much that our hands trembled under the blankets in the night； and we
bit our arm to stop that other pain which we could not endure。 It was evil
and we dared not face our brothers in the morning。 For men may wish
nothing for themselves。 And we were punished when the Council of
Vocations came to give us our life Mandates which tell those who reach
their fifteenth year what their work is to be for the rest of their days。
The Council of Vocations came on the first day of spring； and they sat
in the great hall。 And we who were fifteen and all the Teachers came into
the great hall。 And the Council of Vocations sat on a high dais； and they
had but two words to speak to each of the Students。 They called the
Students' names； and when the Students stepped before them； one after
another； the Council said： 〃Carpenter〃 or 〃Doctor〃 or 〃Cook〃 or 〃Leader。〃
Then each Student raised their right arm and said： 〃The will of our
brothers be done。〃
Now if the Council has said 〃Carpenter〃 or 〃Cook；〃 the Students so
assigned go to work and they do not study any further。 But if the Council
has said 〃Leader；〃 then those Students go into the Home of the Leaders；
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which is the greatest house in the City； for it has three stories。 And there
they study for many years； so that they may become candidates and be
elected to the City Council and the State Council and the World Council
by a free and general vote of all men。 But we wished not to be a
Leader； even though it is a great honor。 We wished to be a Scholar。
So we awaited our turn in the great hall and then we heard the Council
of Vocations call our name： 〃Equality 7…2521。〃 We walked to the dais；
and our legs did not tremble； and we looked up at the Council。 There
were five members of the Council； three of the male gender and two of the
female。 Their hair was white and their faces were cracked as the clay of a
dry river bed。 They were old。 They seemed older than the marble of the
Temple of the World Council。 They sat before us and they did not move。
And we saw no breath to stir the folds of their white togas。 But we knew
that they were alive； for a finger of the hand of the oldest rose； pointed to
us； and fell down again。 This was the only thing which moved； for the lips
of the oldest did not move as they said： 〃Street Sweeper。〃
We felt the cords of our neck grow tight as our head rose higher to
look upon the faces of the Council； and we were happy。 We knew we had
been guilty； but now we had a way to atone for it。 We would accept our
Life Mandate； and we would work for our brothers； gladly and willingly；
and we would erase our sin against them； which they did not know； but we
knew。 So we were happy； and proud of ourselves and of our victory over
ourselves。 We raised our right arm and we spoke； and our voice was the
clearest； the steadiest voice in the hall that day； and we said：
〃The will of our brothers be done。〃
And we looked straight into the eyes of the Council； but their eyes
were as cold blue glass buttons。
So we went into the Home of the Street Sweepers。 It is a grey house on
a narrow street。 There is a sundial in its courtyard； by which the Council of
the Home can tell the hours of the day and when to ring the bell。 When
the bell rings； we all arise from our beds。 The sky is green and cold in
our windows to the east。 The shadow on the sundial marks off a half…
hour while we dress and eat our breakfast in the dining hall； where there
are five long tables with twenty clay plates and twenty clay cups on each
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table。 Then we go to work in the streets of the City； with our brooms and
our rakes。 In five hours； when the sun is high； we return to the Home and
we eat our midday meal； for which one…half hour is allowed。 Then we go
to work again。 In five hours； the shadows are blue on the pavements； and
the sky is blue with a deep brightness which is not bright。 We come back
to have our dinner； which lasts one hour。 Then the bell rings and we
walk in a straight column to one of the City Halls； for the Social Meeting。
Other columns of men arrive from the Homes of the different Trades。
The candles are lit； and the Councils of the different Homes stand in a
pulpit； and they speak to us of our duties and of our brother men。 Then
visiting Leaders mount the pulpit and they read to us the speeches which
were made in the City Council that day； for the City Council represents all
men and all men must know。 Then we sing hymns； the Hymn of
Brotherhood； and the Hymn of Equality； and the Hymn of the Collective
Spirit。 The sky is a soggy purple when we return to the Home。 Then the
bell rings and we walk in a straight column to the City Theatre for three
hours of Social Recreation。 There a play is shown upon the stage； with two
great choruses from the Home of the Actors； which sp